Process and apparatus for producing glazing units



Nov. 29, 1938. c, DQ HAVEN 2,138,154

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GLAZING' UNITS Original Filed Oct. l2, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l CH/Mz. E: D. H4 VEN.

Cltforneg Nov.29,193s. i C DHAVEN' www PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GLAZING UNITS v original Filed Oct. 12, 1954 3 sheets-sheet 2 HHHHHHHHIIHHHHHHH HHHHMHHHH #il l 1* f/ 54 34 E :L -1 E- Snventor 5 1 E HA/P456 HAVEN Gttorneg c. D. HAVEN 2,138,164 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GLAZING NITS Original Filed Oct. l2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snventor Hanes 0. H/:vf/v.

(Ittorneg Patented Nov. 29,

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PMDUCIN G GLAZING- UNITS Charles D. Haven, Toledo, Ohio,

mopane Company, Toledo, Ohio,

of Ohio asslgnor to Thera corporation Original application October l2, 1934, Serial No.

Divided and this application December i, 1935, serial No. 53,401

s claims. v(ci. 154-28) Y 'I'he present invention relates to a single unit, multiple glass sheet "glazing construction consisting of two or more sheets o! glass spaced apart by separating means cemented between the sheets entirely around their edges with the space between the sheets being preferably iilled y with dehydrated air atv4 normal atmospheric pres- -SuIeS.

Such aproduct has been manufactured and sold commercially by the Therxriopane Company, assignee of the present application, under the trade name of Thermopane', andthroughout the'application the word Thermopane -will be understood to designate broadly a single unit,-

the marginal portions of the assembly so that thepressure is, inV effect; edge pressure and not pressure applied o ver`the entire area of the glass sheets. The assembly is subjected to this compensating pressure for a periodof time, and 5 simultaneously with the heat and pressure treatment, dehydrated air is passed through the space between th'e glass sheets' t insure removal pf yall multiple glass sheet glazing 'construction of this character.l j The instant application is adivisional of my ggication Serial No. 748,109, led October 12, The present divisional application is directed primarily to 'the process and apparatus used in the bonding` o! `the glass sheets and separator together and the process and apparatus used in the dehydrating ofthe air contained inthe space between the glass sheets and the separator-strip as well as the'adhesive.

As i s pointed out in the parent application and in other divisional applications thereof, the broad idea of making adouble sash glazing unit r by cementing a spacer orv separator strip about the perimeter of two sheets o1 glass to create an internal air space has been disclosed in a num-- ber of different prior art patents, some of which have already expired. However, so far as I am aware, none of these prior art suggestions have been commercially practical -and my pwn attempts to produce satisfactory glass in accordance with theteachings of thesel prior art suggestions have resulted in utter failures.

40 In addition -to proper cleaning of the glass prior to fabrication and selection of 'satisfactory adhesive strips and adhesives for use between Vthe glass and strips, it is highly important that the glass and separator strips be kproperly pressed together andthat the air space`be thoroughly Same,

'.heating chamber that a group of fabricated dehydratedV and the separator strips super-dried i,

so that they will not throw oi volatilel matter into the space permitting condensation upon the `glass .and other objectionable results.

Broadly. speaking, the process and lapparatus used for applying pressure, which is preferably accompanied by heat, embodies the clamping of the assembled glass and separator strips under `moisture and other volatile matter ,from the space and separator strips whereby to prevent 10 condensation withinthe Thermopane unit when the same is in use.

lQther objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course oi, the following description when taken in connection with th-accompanying drawings. In the drawings whereinr like numerals 'are employed to designate like parts throughout the Fig. 1 is a perspective view or a. nnlned sheet 20 of Thermopane;

xFig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through a sheet of Thermopane, A I

Fig. 3 is an elevation show-lng a Thermopane assembly with pressing means arranged around 25 4the marginal portions thereof,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view' thereof, f v y f Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a may be used and showing 30 glass assembliesbeing subjected to pressure and dehydrating treatment;

Fig. 6 isan end elevation ,of a platen press type pressing means;

Fig. 7 is a-section taken on line Fig. 8 is" a diagrammatic --view showing the pressing compartment and dehydrating equipment; and

Fig'. 9 is a detail eview showing plugging of the openings provided -in lthe separator4 strips .to 40 permit passage of ,dehydrated air through the" space between theglass sheets duringl the heating and pressing treatment. f

In Fig. 1 is shown a iinished sheet of Thermopane comprising two sheets l spaced relation by the.l separator strips il arranged entirely about the marginal portions of the glass sheets. The lengthbf the separator strips isA such that when properly positioned b'etween the glass', aislight channel is created adapt- 50 ed to receive a. seal l2 composed preferably of a number of coatings or layers of material designed spring tensionto provide a flexible, constant. and

substantially evenly distributed pressure about to eiectively protect thev spacer strips and bond between the spacer strips and glass from the atmosphere and other elements, towhich the glass 55 of glass I0 held in i5 structure at time of manufacture.

As-is shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the sheets of glass and spacer strips create the space I3 which preferably contains dehydrated air at substantially normal atmospheric pressure. special installations, the pressure ofthe dehydi ated air within the space I3 may be varied one way or the other 'to meet particular conditions.

As is pointed out in the parent application, it is highly important that prior to fabrication of the glass into Thermopane, it be thoroughly cleaned, not only from the appearance standpoint but from the standpoint of durability of Thermopane when in use.. Briefly stated, cleaning of the glass is accomplished by rst subjecting it to a Water soaking treatment to remove water soluble and water removable substancesthat may be on the surfaces of the glass and to also remove water soluble alkalies present at the surfaces of the glass sheets. Sodium and calcium hydroxides are mentioned as being probably the main soluble alkalies washed from the surface'of the glass, and it is my opinion that removalof these alkalies from thesurfaces of the glass plays an important part in holding down or entirely preventing deleterious staining or eiiiorescence of the glass sheets when subsequently fabricated into Thermopane.

Following the water soaking treatment, the glass sheets are subjected to the action of a second fluid capable of dissolving greases and similar matter which is not readily attacked by water, and a mixture of alcohol and some non-glass cutting abrasive such as Whiting (chalk) is satisfactory for this step in the cleaning process.

The glass sheets are then buffed to remove the cleaning materials andfforeign matter to give a satisfactorily cleaned mirror-like surface.

The separator strips II, as is disclosed in the parent application, are formed from a yiel`dable, somewhat porous material such as a laminated rubber compound and fabric, with the outer surfaces of the rubber laminations being faced with the fabric. The fabric facings of the strips are cleaned and roughened so that an interrupted or point contact type of adhesion can be obtained betweenl the separator and glass sheets.

'I'he type of material from which the spacer elements are formed and the method of bonding vthe same to the glass sheets are important for a number of different reasons.v When the Thermopane is placed in use, it is ordinarily subjected to strains from internal pressure in the air space and from expansion and contraction of the two or more sheets of glass due to the fact that the temperature of the glass sheets is constantly changing with relation to one another. When a rigid type of separator is used, this movement of the glass sheets and change in pressure often results in a cracking of the .glass so that even assuming that' it is possible to obtain an adequate bond between a rigid type separator and the` glass, the results obtained are not satisfactory because of breakage. In other words, if the bond is sufficient to hold the glass and separator tgether, the glass sheets will break and if the bond is not sufficient to.hold the glass and rigid separator together, seepage is permitted so that in either event the glass is ruined.

With the laminated rubber and fabric separator strip, shellac and alcohol in the approximate proportions of one pound of shellac to four gallons of 180 proof alcohol are entirely satisfac- Obviously, for

tory. After the adhesive has been applied to the separators, the separators and glass sheets may be assembled as disclosed in my parent application. Y

After the elements have been placed in proper superimposed relationship, the assembly is subjected to a heating and pressing treatment to effect bonding of the glass and separator strips together. Simultaneously with the heat `and pressure treatment to effect bonding, dehydrated air .and comprise the multiplicity of spring-pressed devices I5 including the jaws I6 for engaging opposite sides Aof the Thermopane assembly near the edges thereof as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. A number of the spring-pressed devices I5 are carried by the plates II through which extend the adjustable bolts I8; In view of the position of the spring member I9, the jaws I6 are normally urged 'toward one another, thus exerting pressure upon the Thermopane assembly, and' to spread the jaws I6 apart the plates I1 may be moved toward one another as will readily be understood.

It is convenient to make up the clamping devices I4in lengths suitable for the different sizes of Thermopane units to be produced, and while the individual clamping units can be placedoii the glass one at a time it is cheaper and general-l ly more satisfactory to make them up into units as shown so that a group may be placed in position at one time. Furthermore, it is not necessary that only one group of clamps be used on each side of the assembly as a number of lengths of units Vcan be placed upon the glass provided there is a substantially uniform application of pressure about the perimeter ofthe Thermopane assembly.

After the clamping means have been associated with the assembly, it is placed into a cabinet or heating compartment 20 on the racks 2I ar ranged therein. The chamber 2U may be provided with a series of the supports 2| for receiving the spring-pressed 'I'hermopane assemblies, and to permit access to the interior of the compartment the vertically adjustable closure members 22 can be used. As shown, the compartment is also provided with gas burners 23 for controlling the temperature of the compartment and consequently the Thermopane assembly during the pressing treatment. Obviously, the construc- 'tion of the compartment can be varied tol suit convenience and electrical as well as gaseous fuel heating elements will be satisfactory. Regardless of the form of heating equipment resorted to, the Thermopane assemblies should be subjected to a'temperatureof approximately 200 F. for. a period of about three hours. The heat and pressure treatment thus applied is sufficient to promote an adequate and permanent bond between the glass sheets and separator strips as" well as between the separator strips at their conmeans are placed in the cabinet 20, dehydrating means are connected with the space between the glass sheets. -'Ihe hypodermic needles 2Ind 25 are inserted.throughtransverse openings pr viously formed in the separator strips. The ne e 24 is connected Aby means of a' flexible hose 23 to a lconduit ZTfurniShed-with a supply. o f dehydrated air, whilethe needle 25 serves as an exhaustfor the space between the glass sheets. and insome cases the needle is not required as the opening will be. satisfactory for exhausting purposes. However, by providing the needle and hose, there is less danger of clogging up of thev o ening in the separator strip uduring th shown particularly in Fig. 7the platens are provided with'thestrips 30 slotted at spaced points as atl 3| -to produce the isolated sections to act as retainers for the springs 32. `The backingmembers 33 receive the other ends .of the springsL and by means of the rods. 3 4 and wing nuts 35,

the desired amount of pressure canibe applied to the stack of'Thermopane assemblies through the intermediary of the springs and compensating platens. It will be noted that the springs are positioned around the border portions of/the platens only so that the pressure is an edgeirssure/and not applied over the entire areas of the glass sheets to the same extent.

In Fig. 8, the platen press, designated in its entirety by the numeral 36, is arranged within the cabinet 31 correspondingto the cabinet 20 in Fig. 5, the press and its contents being supported' on themembers 38 and the temperature of the 'glass controlled by tha heating elements 33.

Regardless of the type of pressing instrumentality used, the dehydrating means are employed andthe supply of dehydrated air may be furnished by means ofthe compressor I0 operated by the motorI 4I and' filling the tank I2. In addition to dehydrating the air, it is preferably filtered so that itis thoroughlyk cleaned `when introduced into' thecavity between the glass sheets..v` The pipe 43, Aconnected to the tank-42, likewise connects to a jar 4,4 which may be iilled with Va dehydrating ragent such as calcium chloride,

One or anynumber of similar interconnecting f' jars may be used to vinsure thorough dehydration of the ai'r. In theillustration, the `jarlii is likewise lledwith calcium chloride. The remaining jars 41, shown in Fig. 8, may belled with cotton and steel wool 48 so thai'l the air is then completely` dehydrated and ltered. It is then passed through the conduit 21 through the` hypodermic l needles Aand into the space between the `glass sheets, and I prefer to use just sufficient pressure to insure a constant steady flowof` air tfirough the space; about one pound of pressure will do.

.Becausev the assemblies are positioned-in .the

heated-cabinet for a period of about three hours, I have not found it necessary to heat the dehy-- drated air 'externally of the cabinet as its tem-.

' perature is raised s'uiciently passing through the conduits and while in the cavity between the glass rtsheets. However, the air may beheated ,exter-.n 75 nally of the cabinetdf preferred andas a matter of precaution,During the entire time that the Thermopane assembly is being subjected tothe heat and pressure treatment, a continuous stream of dehydrated air is passed through the space between the glass sheets. 5

Since all -materials contain water in some degree, the term dehydration is a' relative one. As has'been pointed out, solid separators are not' satisfactory, and therefore a type of separator,

having a slight degree of flexibility is employed and in the case of the rubber fabricu laminated type of separator, the separator has a certain de-` gree of porosity and thus capable of absorbing and holding moistiur I have found that I can take advantage of this l5 property of the separator and can make it serve a very useful function in the success of the Thermopane construction.A Durin`g the heating and dehydrating steps, the degree of heat andlength of time-duringwhich the treatment 'extends is 2 hi gh enough and long enough to give what I consider to be a super-drying ofthe separator material and the adhesive.' .That -is,fthe heating of the assemb'y drives oiI volatile matter such as, for example, the alcohol in the adhesive and also' moisture' present in the separator. The passage of dehydrated air through the space formed bel tween the glass sheets and in contact with they separators renders the separators hygroscopici, and therefore they act as a safeguard when the Thermopane is in use because any slight moisture that might possibly be entrapped within the Thermopane is taken up by\th e super-dried separator and thus not permitted to condense on the surfaces of the glass when'` subjected to low tem- 35 peratu'res. l The degree of dehydration required is high especially where the 'I'hermopane is to be 'mountedin steel sash. When installed in metal sash, the

muntins o'f the sash become very hot in summer, 40

so that the separator must be dry enough that this heat willl not drive out any moisture therefrom causing condensation' to form on the glass,

surfaces. The muntins absorb the vradiant heat from the sun while the glass transmits most of the 'radiant heat. 'Ihis temperature diierence will result inI condensation if. thereris enough Amoisture present in the strip material or in the air trapped between the glass sheets.

Therefore, by super-drying the separator, a 50 hygroscopic condition is produced whereby the separator itself acts as a constant -vmeans for keeping the air in a dehydrated condition so thatv a slight seepage of moisture which might possibly pass through the sealing coatings can be tolerated.

The importance of this super-drying of the separators to render them hygroscopic in nature cannot be over-emphasized,- especially when it is considered that the volume ot air in the space is so small that only a trace of moisture can be heldin theair without reaching saturation. The volume of' moisture which the rubber type separator can hold when properly .dried is far greater than the capacity of the air itself to hold moisture so that a definite protection against freeI moisture e5 in the air` is had? for a considerable'length of time.

At the. end of the heatingv and `dehydrating -l treatments, the bonded glass and separator assembly are removed),v and1within a reasonably 70- short time the openings -provided for the insertion of the hypodermic needles jare plugged with a suitable rubber, cement l3`\by means of the tool 50 as shown in Fig. 9. lo.

Following this. the marginal \portionsv of the including the steps of applying a coating of adhesive to opposite surfaces of the separator strips,

placing the glass sheets and separator strips in proper superimposed relationship with the adhesive coated surfaces of said separator strips in contact with the glass sheets, then subjecting the marginal portions of the assembly so formed to light pressure in presencev of heat to bond the separator strips between the glass sheets, and passing dehydrated air through the space between the glass sheets during the pressing treatment.

2. The process of producing a multi-ply glass sheet glazing unit of the character described, comprising 'a plurality of glass sheetsand yieldable separator strips bonded between the glass sheets entirely around their marginal portions, including the steps of applying a coating of adhesive to opposite surfaces of the separator strips, placing the glass sheets and separator strips in proper superimposed relationship with the adhesive coated surfaces of said separator strips in contact with the glass sheets, subjecting the marginal portions of the assembly-so formed to compensating pressure in a heated atmosphere for bonding the glas's sheets and .separator strips together, and simultaneously passing a ow of dehydrated air through the space between the sheets to dehydrate the air remaining between the sheets and the separator strips themselves.

3. The process of producing a multi-ply glass sheet glazing unit of the character described, comprising a plurality of glass sheets and yieldable separatorstrips bonded between the glass sheets entirely around their marginal portions, including the steps of applying a coating of adhesive to opposite surfaces of the separator strips, placing the glass she ts and separator strips in proper superimposed lationship with the adhesive coated surfaces of said separator strips in contact with the glass sheets, subjecting the marginal portions of the assembly so formed to cornpensating pressures in the presence of heat to.'

eect bonding between the glass sheets and separator strips, and simultaneously passing acontinuous ow of thoroughly dehydrated air through the space between the glass sheets.

4. Apparatus of the character described for use in the manufacture of multi-ply glass sheet glazing units, comprising a plurality of glass sheets and separator strips bonded between the glass sheets entirely around their perimeters forming 'a dead air space therebetween, consisting of means for exerting compensating pressure to the marginal portions of the assembled glass sheets and separator strips, and means for inducing a flow of 5 l Vdehydrated air through said dead air space during the time that pressure is applied to the margina] portions of the assembly.

5. Apparatus of the character described for use in the manufacture of multi-ply glass sheet glazing units, comprising a plurality of glass sheets and separator strips bonded between the glass sheets entirely around their perimeters forming a dead air space therebetween, consisting of springpressed members arranged to exert pressure upon the marginal portions of the assembly to eifect bonding of the glass sheets and separator strips together, and means for inducing a ow of dehydrated-air through the space between the glass sheets for dehydrating the air left between said 'sheets and for dehydrating the separator strips.

6. Apparatus of the character described for use in the manufacture of multi-ply glass sheet glazing units, comprising a plurality of glass sheets and separator strips bonded between the glass sheets entirely around their perimeters forming a. dead air space therebetween, consisting of spring-pressed members arranged to exert pressure upon the marginal portions of the assembly toeffect bonding of the glass sheets and separator strips together, means for inducing a ow of dehydrated air through the space between the glass sheets for dehydrating the air left between said sheets and for dehydrating the separator strips, and means for heating the assembly dur- .85

ing the pressing treatment.

7. Apparatus ofthe character described for use in the manufacture of multi-ply glasssheet glazing units comprising a plurality of glass sheets.

and separator strips bondedv between theglass sheets entirely around their perimeters forming a dead air space therebetween, consisting of means for exerting a compensating pressurel to the marginal portions only of the assembled glass/ sheets and separator strips, and means for heat- 45.

ing the assembly during the pressing treatment.

8. Apparatus of the character described for use in the manufacture of multi-ply glass sheet glaz- -ing units comprising a plurality of glass sheets .and separator strips bonded between the glass sheets4 entirelyv around their perimeters formingl a dead air' space therebetween, consisting of spring-pressed members arranged to exert pressure upon the marginal portions only of the assembly to effect bonding of the glass sheets and 55 separator strips together, and means forl heating the assembly during the pressing treatment.

CHARLES D. HAVEN.l 

